Apparatus and method for minimizing the volume of a liquid carrier used for delivering agricultural products into a furrow during planting

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for minimizing the volume of a liquid carrier used for delivering an agricultural product into a furrow during planting. The apparatus includes a seed tube assembly for dispensing seed. A seed firmer assembly is operatively connected to the seed tube assembly. A seed firmer application tube assembly is mounted to the seed firmer assembly. The seed firmer application tube assembly has an outlet end for dispensing a carrier containing an agricultural product. A seed firmer brush is mounted to the outlet end of the seed firmer application tube assembly. The seed firmer brush is configured to contact the carrier containing the agricultural product during the dispensing thereof and brushing the carrier containing the agricultural product onto the seed being dispensed from the seed tube assembly.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation application of U.S.application Ser. No. 16/107,374, filed Aug. 21, 2018, entitled APPARATUSAND METHOD FOR MINIMIZING THE VOLUME OF A LIQUID CARRIER USED FORDELIVERING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS INTO A FURROW DURING PLANTING.

U.S. application Ser. No. 16/107,374 filed Aug. 21, 2018 is a divisionof U.S. Nonprovisional application Ser. No. 15/190,652, filed Jun. 23,2016, entitled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MINIMIZING THE VOLUME OF ALIQUID CARRIER USED FOR DELIVERING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS INTO A FURROWDURING PLANTING.

U.S. Nonprovisional application Ser. No. 15/190,652, filed Jun. 23, 2016claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/188,555, filedJul. 3, 2015, entitled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MINIMIZING THE VOLUME OFA LIQUID CARRIER USED FOR DELIVERING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS INTO A FURROWDURING PLANTING.

The entire contents of each of the above-identified applications areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to material delivery systems foragricultural products, including fertilizers, nutrients, crop protectionchemicals, biologicals, plant growth regulators; and, more particularlyto material dispensing systems for dispensing agricultural liquidproducts at relatively low rates.

2. Description of the Related Art

Most agricultural liquid products applied at planting are appliedgenerally using water as the carrier, but other carriers may be usedsuch as liquid fertilizers, at rates of the carrier above two gallonsper acre. Applying the agricultural liquid products in the carrier atrates below two gallons per acre causes metering problems with the rowplanter unit that dispenses these agricultural liquid products. Oneissue is that dispensing agricultural liquid products in a carrier atthese low rates requires a relatively small orifice for metering with astandard liquid dispensing system. The small orifice results inconcomitant issues with plugging and limits the products that maybeapplied at these low rates. The small orifices become more easilyplugged by contaminates and particulates if a low rate of dispensing isinvolved.

Using selective applicators to control weeds growing above the crop hasbeen widely adopted as a weed control method. Several types have beendeveloped. Among them are recirculating sprayers, roller applicators,carpet wipers, and rope wick applicators of several designs. Adiscussion of rope wick applicators is in the publication “Rope WickTips”, by Dennis R. Gardisser, Cooperative Extension Service, Universityof Arkansas, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and County GovernmentCooperating, Publication MP229, undated. A rope wick applicator worksthe way the name suggests. The chemical is wicked from a reservoir tothe exposed portion of the rope. This exposed portion of rope is thenwiped against the plant to be controlled.

There are several systems used on typical agricultural sprayers thatpulse the liquid at three to twenty times a second. This range of pulserate provides a high degree of control of application. For a givennozzle size and/or application rate the range of speed of travel is morelimited if one is not pulsing the application of the agriculturalproduct than if one is pulsing the application. By applying theprincipals of the present invention, as will be disclosed below, theamount of carrier to apply the pesticides, etc. at planting, can bereduced. The amount of agricultural product can also be reduced.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the spray nozzle of thedispensing system of the row planter unit is modified, as will bedisclosed below, to provide a continuous line of agricultural liquidproducts. In other embodiments, where, what is known in this field as aseed firmer or rebounder is used, features are provided to work withsuch a low rate of dispensing. Seed firmers and rebounders are used tobetter place the seed in the bottom of the seed furrow or trench.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention is embodied as a method forminimizing the volume of a liquid carrier used for delivering anagricultural product into a furrow during planting. A spray nozzle ismounted on a planter row unit so as to dispense a carrier containing anagricultural product along a dispensing pattern in alignment with thepattern width of the spray nozzle, in the direction of the furrow.

In another aspect, the present invention is embodied as an apparatus forminimizing the volume of a liquid carrier used for delivering a carriercontaining an agricultural product into a furrow during planting. Theapparatus includes a seed tube assembly for dispensing seed. A seedcover assembly is operatively connected to the seed tube assembly. Aseed cover application tube is mounted to the seed cover assembly. Theseed cover application tube assembly has an outlet end for dispensing acarrier containing an agricultural product. A seed cover brush ismounted to the outlet end of the seed cover application tube. The seedcover brush is configured to contact the carrier containing theagricultural product during the dispensing thereof and brush the carriercontaining the agricultural product onto the seed being dispensed fromthe seed tube assembly.

In another embodiment the apparatus for minimizing the volume of aliquid carrier used for delivering a carrier containing an agriculturalproduct into a furrow during planting includes a seed firmer applicationtube assembly mounted to said seed firmer assembly. The seed firmerapplication tube assembly has an outlet end for dispensing a carriercontaining an agricultural product.

The application rate range of the present invention provides for aconvenient package for handling and shipping. The containers may be madesmaller and lighter than presently used containers. Manufacturing andshipping costs are therefore reduced. Furthermore, there is less volumeof agricultural product required, resulting in reduced storage andhandling requirements.

In some embodiments the agricultural product containers are rigid. Insome embodiments the agricultural product containers may be disposable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus for minimizing the volume of a liquidcarrier used for delivering an agricultural product into a furrow, froma planter row unit, during planting in accordance with the principles ofthe present invention, in which a spray nozzle is mounted so as todispense an agricultural product along a dispensing pattern in alignmentwith the pattern width of the spray nozzle, in the direction of thefurrow.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective illustration of a portion of theplanter row unit of FIG. 1, showing the orientation of the spray nozzleto dispense along a dispensing pattern in alignment with the patternwidth, in the direction of the furrow.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the system shown in FIG. 1, inoperation.

FIG. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of an apparatus for minimizingthe volume of a liquid carrier used for delivering an agriculturalproduct onto a seed in the furrow during planting, in which a seed coverassembly is used with a seed cover brush mounted to the outlet end of aseed cover application tube, the seed cover brush being configured tocontact the agricultural product during the dispensing thereof andbrushing the agricultural product onto the seed being dispensed from aseed tube assembly.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective illustration of a portion of theplanter row unit of FIG. 4, showing details of the seed cover assemblyand seed cover brush.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the system shown in FIG. 4, inoperation.

FIG. 7 illustrates a third embodiment of an apparatus for minimizing thevolume of a liquid carrier used for delivering an agricultural productonto a seed in the furrow during planting, in which a seed firmerassembly is used with a seed firmer brush mounted to the outlet end of aseed firmer application tube assembly, the seed firmer brush beingconfigured to contact the agricultural product during the dispensingthereof and brushing the agricultural product onto the seed beingdispensed from a seed tube assembly.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective illustration of a portion of theplanter row unit of FIG. 7, showing details of the seed firmer assemblyand seed firmer brush.

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of the system shown in FIG. 7, inoperation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and the characters of reference markedthereon, FIGS. 1-3 illustrate an apparatus, designated generally as 10in FIG. 1, for minimizing the volume of a liquid carrier used fordelivering an agricultural product into a furrow 12, from a planter rowunit 14, during planting in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention.

The planter row unit 14 may be, for example, such as manufactured byJohn Deere & Company, CNH America LLC, Kinze Manufacturing, PrecisionPlanting LLC, as is known by those in this field.

Typical liquid carriers may be, water and/or liquid fertilizer. A spraynozzle 16 is mounted so as to dispense an agricultural product 18 (seeFIG. 3) along a dispensing pattern in alignment with the pattern widthof the spray nozzle 16, in the direction 20 of the furrow 12.

The spray nozzle 16 may be, for example, a flat fan spray tip type. Sucha flat fan spray tip type is distributed by companies like DG TeeJet, asthe DG TeeJet® Drift Guard Even Flat Spray Tip. Conventionally, when aflat fan spray tip type is utilized the tip is oriented so that itprovides application in a broadcast fashion, i.e. the liquid isdistributed in a line substantially perpendicular to the direction 20 ofthe furrow 12. However, with the present invention, as can be best seenin FIG. 2, the spray nozzle 16 is oriented so that application isprovided in the direction 20 of the furrow 12.

The planter row unit 14 is operated to deliver the carrier containingthe agricultural product in a pulsed manner. The goal is to synchronizethe pulsing with the geometry of the row unit, e.g. the distance of thenozzle from the ground, etc., so that the planter row unit delivers thecarrier containing the agricultural product in a substantiallycontinuous line of agricultural product in the furrow. The pulsed rateis generally in a range of between about 3 to 20 times per second. Sincethe bandwidth is in the direction of travel of the planter row unit 14,for a continuous pattern flow, with the same size tip as a conventionalsystem, flow is required generally every 6-10 inches rather than the ½to 1 inch required to provide a continuous application at a lower rateof application. Thus, the dispensing pattern is generally a strip in arange of between 6 and 10 inches.

The spray nozzle 16 is attached to a liquid dispensing line 22 in fluidcommunication with one or more containers 24 supported in the planterrow unit 14.

The material dispensing system of the present invention may be used withother types of agricultural implements, but is primarily used with seedplanting equipment 26. Although FIGS. 1 and 3 show a single row ofplanting equipment, typical planters include multiple rows, for example,up to 48 or more.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, just after the seed 28 is dispensed in thefurrow 12, the agricultural product is dispensed into the furrow 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-6, in a second embodiment of an apparatus forminimizing the volume of a liquid carrier used for delivering anagricultural product onto a seed in the furrow during planting, isillustrated, and designated generally as 29. In this embodiment of aseed cover assembly 30 is used with a seed cover brush 32 mounted to theoutlet end of a seed cover application tube 34. The seed cover brush isconfigured to contact the agricultural product during the dispensingthereof, brushing the agricultural product onto the seed being dispensedfrom a seed tube assembly 36.

One example of a seed cover for a seed cover assembly 30 is known inthis field as the Rebounder™ seed cover, manufactured by Schaffert Mfg.Co., Inc., 105 D Street Hwy 6 & 34 Indianola, Nebr. The Rebounder™ seedcover is a planting attachment that improves the accuracy and uniformityof in-furrow seed placement on planters and seed drills.

The seed cover 38 of the seed cover assembly 30 includes a wedge-shapedportion 40 for guiding the seed to a furrow 12. This seed cover assembly30 is known as a “rebounder” because the seed is “rebounded” to flow toa notched distal portion thereof. The notched distal portion serves asan outlet end for dispensing agricultural product flowing through theseed cover application tube 34.

The seed cover brush 32 is mounted to the outlet end of the seed coverapplication tube. The seed cover brush 32 is configured to contact theagricultural product and carrier during the dispensing thereof and brushthe agricultural product and carrier onto the seed being dispensed fromthe seed tube assembly. The seed cover brush 32 may be formed by a metalclamp 46 attached to the end of the seed cover application tube 34, withseed cover brush bristles 48 crimped by the metal clamp 46. Therefore,the seed cover brush bristles 48 become saturated with the liquidagricultural product and carrier as it exits the notched distal portion42. Thus, the seed cover brush 32 essentially paints the seeds 28 asthey brush against the bristles, as shown in FIG. 6. The seed coverbrush is constructed of material that minimizes interference with theplacement of the seeds and is substantially impervious to theagricultural products being applied. Various materials and dimensions ofbrushes may be used. It is preferably a ferrule style brush. By way ofexample, the brush width may be on the order of ¼ to ⅝ inches; the trimlength may be on the order of ½ to ¾ inches; the length may be on theorder of 3¼ to 5¾ inches. Ferule style brushes are manufactured by, forexample, Felton Brushes. The bristles are preferably nylon.

The seed cover brush 32 can be secured to the seed cover assembly 30 bya bracket 50 and tab 52 with opening. The seed cover assembly 30 may besecured to the seed tube assembly 36 by ties 54.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-9 another embodiment is illustrated, designatedgenerally as 56. In this embodiment, instead of a seed cover assembly, aseed firmer assembly 58 is used in the apparatus 56 for minimizing thevolume of a liquid carrier used for delivering an agricultural productonto a seed in the furrow during planting.

The seed firmer assembly 58 is operatively connected to a seed tubeassembly 36. The distal end 60 of the seed firmer assembly 58 serves toforce the seed 28 into the bottom of the furrow 12. A seed firmerapplication tube assembly 62 is mounted to the seed firmer assembly 58.The seed firmer application tube assembly 62 has an outlet end fordispensing the carrier and the agricultural product. A seed firmer brush64 is mounted to the outlet end of the seed firmer application tube 62.The seed firmer brush 64 is configured to contact the carrier and theagricultural product during the dispensing thereof and brushing thecarrier containing the agricultural product onto the seed 28 beingdispensed from the seed tube assembly 36. As in the previous embodiment,suitable clamps 66 can be used to hold the seed firmer application tube62 in place. The seed firmer brush extends from an opening in the distalend 60 of the seed firmer assembly 58. The seed firmer brush may be asdescribed above relative to the seed cover brush.

If more than one liquid agricultural product is desired to be applied,additional seed firmer application tube assemblies 68 and associatedseed firmer brushes 70 mounted thereon can be used. This could be in theinstance where there are incompatible products thus allowing independentapplication. One example of such independent application would be theuse of both biological and a chemical agricultural product.

As mentioned above, other embodiments and configurations may be devisedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of theappended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for minimizing the volume of aliquid carrier used for delivering an agricultural product into a furrowduring planting, comprising: a) a seed tube assembly for dispensingseed; b) a seed firmer assembly operatively connected to said seed tubeassembly; c) a seed firmer application tube assembly mounted to saidseed firmer assembly, said seed firmer application tube assembly havingan outlet end for dispensing a carrier containing an agriculturalproduct; and, d) a seed firmer brush mounted to the outlet end of theseed firmer application tube assembly, said seed firmer brush configuredto contact the carrier containing the agricultural product during thedispensing thereof and brushing the carrier containing the agriculturalproduct onto the seed being dispensed from the seed tube assembly. 2.The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising additional seed firmerapplication tubes and associated seed firmer brushes mounted thereon. 3.The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising additional seed firmerapplication tubes and associated seed firmer brushes mounted thereon,wherein each seed firmer application tube provides a differentagricultural product.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprisingadditional seed firmer application tubes and associated seed firmerbrushes mounted thereon, wherein each seed firmer application tubeprovides a different agricultural product, the agricultural productsbeing incompatible.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprisingadditional seed firmer application tubes and associated seed firmerbrushes mounted thereon, wherein each seed firmer application tubeprovides a different agricultural product, the agricultural productsbeing incompatible, a first agricultural product being a biological anda second agricultural product being a chemical.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein said seed firmer brush is mounted to said seed firmerapplication tube assembly by a clamp.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1further comprising at least one additional seed firmer application tubeand associated seed firmer brush mounted thereon, wherein saidadditional seed firmer application tube is mounted within the seedfirmer assembly.